Article August 2, 1913 Issue

Men are very largely what they are because of what...

with contributions from Mazzini

Baltimore (Md.) American

Men are very largely what they are because of what they think. This was recognized by the apostle, and his words are true, whether applied to the intellectual or the spiritual life. If character is molded by thought, the thought must be lofty if the character is to be lofty. So we have this advice from the apostle: "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

We doubt whether there can be such a thing as an absolute "mental vacuum," that is, a wholly tenantless mind. But it may be comparatively empty, so empty as to be widely open to evil. It must be filled, and with things that are true, lovely, and of good report, otherwise it will become the slave of other influences. It is not enough to "cease to do evil;" men must "learn to do well." Virtue consists, not in the absence of evil, but in the presence of good. That is the teaching both of Christianity and of the non-Christian philosophers.

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